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Tories will fight for seats in NI | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Conservatives will fight for every seat in the UK, including Northern Ireland, at the next General Election. | |
Former Ulster Unionist leader, Lord Trimble, made the announcement to delegates at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. | |
The Conservatives are currently engaged in discussions with the Ulster Unionists about a possible merger. | |
Lord Trimble told the conference he hoped the Conservatives would have the help of the UUP at the next election. | |
His comments come after Tory shadow secretary of state said there was no reason why MPs from NI could not be part of a cabinet, if his party were to merge with the UUP. | |
Owen Paterson was speaking ahead of the Conservative Party conference on Sunday. | |
He said MPs should be able to work on all levels at Westminster: "Why should Northern Ireland be different?" | He said MPs should be able to work on all levels at Westminster: "Why should Northern Ireland be different?" |
"Why shouldn't Northern Ireland have politicians from here playing a full part in our national politics." | "Why shouldn't Northern Ireland have politicians from here playing a full part in our national politics." |
UUP leader Sir Reg Empey said a cabinet post for the Ulster Unionists was a possibility. | UUP leader Sir Reg Empey said a cabinet post for the Ulster Unionists was a possibility. |
"The general principle would be that if you are part of a wider whole then you participate at all levels. That is the inevitable downstream consequence going forward," he said. | "The general principle would be that if you are part of a wider whole then you participate at all levels. That is the inevitable downstream consequence going forward," he said. |
A report from a working group set up to examine whether there should be a merger between the Ulster Unionists and the Conservatives is due in the autumn. | A report from a working group set up to examine whether there should be a merger between the Ulster Unionists and the Conservatives is due in the autumn. |